IT’S a brand new year.

And social media posts about individuals’ achievements fill our social media pages. While we celebrate their triumphs, some suffer the burden of expecting themselves to perform in the same manner. 

In today’s hyper-connected society, where social media amplifies the accomplishments and milestones of others, societal expectations to attain colossal success at seemingly inconceivable speeds have grown.

Whether it’s finding a dream job right out of college, creating a lucrative side hustle, or curating the ideal social media presence, the pressure to continuously perform and please can be overwhelming at times. 

On the other hand, seeing achievement posts from people we know might be pressuring at times. Leaving us to consider ourselves underperformers as we compare our tiny victories this year. 

However, for some Gen Zs, simply surviving another year and navigating the intricacies of modern life can be a huge achievement in and of itself. Minding their own race and accepting their small progress.

The Pressure of Overachieving

In an interview with republicasia, Ian Capati stated that there is actual pressure associated with reading curated posts of milestones and achievements from others, since it causes emotions of inadequacy. 

The pressure for the 23-year-old news analyst stems from the unstated expectation that an individual will prove that their year was not wasted. A game of comparison that occasionally compromises their great efforts.

“Some people label themselves “underachievers” because they internalize societal and peer expectations as the measure of their worth,” Capati said, highlighting how this thought affects individuals.

“They look at others’ success stories and feel like their own efforts are not enough in comparison. It makes them feel like they failed at their own imaginary scoreboards.” 

“Social media often paints a picture of perfection, ignoring the struggles behind it. While it’s unfair to compare your raw moments to others’ highlight reel, it’s something many people still grapple with,” he added.

Downplaying One’s Achievements

Kaitlin Kibtiani, on the other hand, stated that she feels the pressure of seeing other people’s accomplishments, which causes her to self-deprecate when she compares her own growth to others.

“I think it’s because we tend to downplay our achievements sometimes, especially when we start to compare it to our friends or other more successful people sa social media feed natin,” Kibtiani said.

“When they start comparing their achievements to other people, they tend to think that theirs are much smaller. Kaya ‘yong iba napapa-overthink na about their achievements.” 

“Kesyo maliit lang naman ‘yong mga ‘yon, nakakahiya ipost since maliit na achievement lang, ‘yung mga ganong klase ng thoughts that undermines or downplays our small wins,” she went on to explain.

These types of thoughts not only spoil our enjoyment of hard-fought days and sleepless nights, but they also influence how we view life. After all, surviving a year is an accomplishment itself, even if it isn’t Instagram-worthy.

Conquer On Your Own Pace

Regardless of the pressures surrounding the concept of success, these Gen Zs believe that overcoming and making it through the year is more than enough cause to be proud of what you’ve accomplished.

“Life isn’t always about grand victories. Not every year has to be groundbreaking, and not every moment has to be a milestone. Sometimes, the biggest battles are fought quietly,” Capati said. 

“To conquer the year doesn’t mean achieving something monumental, it means enduring, adapting, and growing, even in small, invisible ways. In a world that feels relentless, making it to the end of the year is a triumph in itself.”

“Some years are about rebuilding, restarting, or simply enduring. It’s proof that, despite everything, you didn’t give up. It’s not about lowering standards but it’s about redefining what achievement truly means,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kibtiani also believes that just doing something, even if it’s small, will always outweigh doing nothing at all to progress. If it has to start with just getting through the year, then we’ll take it one step at a time.

“Conquering or just simply getting through the year is already a big achievement in itself because the way I see it, sometimes just getting out of bed is already a big challenge,” Kibtiani said.

“And having to force yourself because you have work or a class is already a small success for me. Doing that for 365 days? That’s something to be proud of. It can also be a way to tell yourself to recharge for now and strive for more next year,” she added.

A Gen Z Reminder 

At the end of the day, any improvement or achievement, no matter how small, is something to be proud of. Focus on the idea that life is not a race, and continue to aim for the bigger stage you’ve set for yourself.

“Whenever I think start overthinking and comparing my achievements sa iba, lagi kong inaalala ‘yong quote na, “small progress is still progress” no matter how cliche it may sound like,” Kibtiani shared.

“It’s true kasi eh and it’s really a great quote to remember when faced with self-doubts, in my case. Naniniwala kasi ako na kahit gaano man kaliit ‘yong achievement mo, it’s something to be proud of.”

“‘Cause it’s still part of your bigger progress. It’s still part of the greater achievement set for you in the future, kaya keep on collecting those small progresses lang,” she added.

Your successes, large or small, are something to be proud of. No matter how much pressure you feel from watching other people, getting through a year is reason enough to clap yourself on the back. 

Getting through a year of trials and shocks is undoubtedly enough to convince yourself that you’ve done everything possible to survive. Now let us focus on living rather than surviving in the coming year.